OET Reading FAQ: 20 Questions Answered

The OET Reading sub-test lasts 60 minutes and consists of three parts. Part A (expeditious reading) lasts 15 minutes and requires you to locate specific information from four short texts quickly. Part B (careful reading) presents six short workplace texts with one multiple-choice question each. Part C (careful reading) contains two longer articles of general healthcare interest with eight multiple-choice questions. The total score is converted to a grade from A to E.

The OET Reading sub-test is 60 minutes in total. Part A is strictly timed at 15 minutes, after which answers are collected. Parts B and C are completed in the remaining 45 minutes. You must manage your own time for Parts B and C, though most candidates spend approximately 15 minutes on Part B and 30 minutes on Part C.

Part A tests expeditious reading — your ability to scan multiple short texts quickly to find specific information. You complete missing information in summary paragraphs using words from the texts. Part B tests careful reading of short workplace communications (emails, memos, guidelines) with one MCQ per text. Part C tests careful reading of longer articles, assessing understanding of main ideas, detail, inference, and attitude. Parts B and C together test a broader range of reading skills than Part A.

OET Reading contains 42 questions in total. Your raw score (number of correct answers) is converted to a grade using a conversion table that may vary slightly between test administrations. To achieve a Grade B (the most common requirement), you typically need to answer approximately 30-32 questions correctly. To achieve Grade C+, you need approximately 25-27 correct answers. There is no negative marking, so you should answer every question even if unsure.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) requires a minimum of Grade C+ in the OET Reading sub-test. This equates to a score of approximately 300 out of 500 on the numerical scale, or roughly 25-27 correct answers out of 42. Grade C+ is approximately equivalent to CEFR level B2-C1. Always verify the latest requirements on the NMC website as they can change.

Part A requires rapid information location. To improve speed: practise scanning techniques by running your eyes quickly over text looking for keywords. Read the summary paragraph gaps first to know what information you need. Use the four text headings to predict which text contains each answer. Do not read every word — scan for specific information. Practise under strict 15-minute timed conditions regularly. Familiarity with medical vocabulary and abbreviations also improves speed significantly.

Part B texts are short workplace communications of approximately 100-150 words each. Common text types include: hospital policy extracts, workplace emails, internal memos, patient information leaflets, shift handover notes, and guidelines or protocols. The topics reflect real healthcare workplace scenarios such as infection control, medication procedures, patient safety, and staff responsibilities.

Part C features two longer articles of approximately 700-800 words each on topics of general healthcare interest. These articles may come from medical journals, healthcare magazines, or professional publications. Topics cover a wide range including medical ethics, healthcare technology, patient communication, public health issues, professional development, and healthcare system improvements. The articles are written for a general healthcare audience rather than specialists.

In the paper-based OET test, yes — you can write notes, underline, and annotate the question paper and reading texts freely. This is encouraged for active reading strategies. In the computer-based test, you can use the digital highlighting and note-taking tools provided. Effective annotation helps with locating information and tracking your reasoning.

No, there is no negative marking in OET Reading. You should answer every question even if you are unsure. A guess has a chance of being correct, while a blank answer is always wrong. In multiple-choice questions, you can often eliminate obviously incorrect options to improve your guessing probability.

Part A tests expeditious reading — the ability to quickly locate specific facts across multiple sources. This skill is used daily in clinical practice when checking patient notes, medication charts, and referral letters. Parts B and C test careful reading — the ability to understand detailed meaning, infer implied information, identify attitudes and opinions, and follow arguments. These skills are used when reading policies, research articles, and complex patient information.

For Part A, the 15 minutes is fixed — when time is called, you must stop. Use all 15 minutes; do not finish early. For Parts B and C (45 minutes together), aim to spend about 12-15 minutes on Part B and 30-33 minutes on Part C. Part C requires more reading time and deeper comprehension. If you finish Part B quickly, use the saved time for Part C. Always keep an eye on the clock and move on if a question is taking too long.

No. Once the 15 minutes for Part A ends, your answers are collected and you cannot return to Part A. This is why it is essential to answer all Part A questions within the time limit. Make sure you have written an answer for every gap before the invigilator collects Part A materials.

Focus on healthcare vocabulary relevant to your profession. For nurses, this includes: anatomy and physiology terms, medical conditions and treatments, medication names and categories, hospital department names, clinical procedure terminology, and common medical abbreviations (BP, HR, IV, BMI, etc.). Also study general academic vocabulary and words expressing opinion, attitude, and emphasis that appear in Part C articles.

Most candidates find OET Reading more manageable than IELTS Reading because the content is healthcare-related, which is familiar to medical professionals. The vocabulary, while specialised, relates to your professional knowledge. However, Part A's strict 15-minute time limit creates significant pressure. IELTS Reading has more diverse topics and question types but allows 60 minutes for 40 questions across three passages. OET allows 60 minutes for 42 questions. Many nurses who struggle with IELTS Reading find OET Reading more achievable.

Common Part A mistakes include: spending too long reading each text in detail instead of scanning, failing to check word limits for answers, copying words incorrectly from the text, answering from the wrong text, and running out of time because of poor scanning technique. To avoid these, always read the summary gaps first, identify keywords, scan rapidly, and copy answers carefully checking spelling.

For Part C MCQs: read the question stem carefully before reading the passage section. Read the relevant part of the passage thoroughly. Eliminate obviously wrong options first. Be careful of distractors that use the same words as the passage but express different meanings (IELTS-style paraphrasing is common). Pay attention to qualifiers like 'always', 'never', 'some', 'most' — these often determine correct answers. Check all options before selecting your final answer.

No, dictionaries and any other reference materials are not permitted during the OET Reading test. You must rely on your existing vocabulary knowledge and ability to infer meaning from context. This is why building healthcare vocabulary before the test is so important.

There is no limit to how many times you can take the OET test. You can retake as often as needed, though you must pay the full test fee each time. The NMC accepts OET scores from multiple sittings within a six-month period, meaning you can combine your best sub-test scores from two consecutive tests. This policy provides flexibility if you perform strongly in some sub-tests but not others.

Free OET Reading practice is available from several sources. The official OET website offers free sample tests. Anglotec AI provides free OET Reading practice exercises with healthcare-specific passages, questions, and detailed explanations. You can also create your own practice materials by reading healthcare articles from reputable sources such as the BMJ, Nursing Times, and WHO publications, then writing comprehension questions about them. Practising with authentic healthcare texts builds both vocabulary and reading skills.